The Kansas City Chiefs will begin a season unlike any other in the era of quarterback Patrick Mahomes when the team welcomes the Denver Broncos to Arrowhead Stadium on Monday night.
The Chiefs will have a chance to put last season in the franchise’s rearview mirror, but beating the Broncos will require them to win in three critical areas:
Offensive key: Reach 125 rushing yards
Kansas City cannot allow Denver’s pass rush to turn Monday night into a four-quarter assault on Mahomes.
The Broncos recorded an NFL-leading 68 sacks last season and
can consistently generate pressure without sending additional defenders. That makes establishing the running game essential — especially with Mahomes playing his first regular-season game since tearing his ACL.
The Chiefs need to finish with at least 125 rushing yards.
That does not mean the ball should be taken out of Mahomes’ hands, but the offense must run it effectively enough to keep Denver’s defensive front honest.
A productive running game would create manageable third downs, slow down the Broncos’ edge rushers and give Kansas City more opportunities to use play-action. It would also prevent Mahomes from having to drop back 40 or more times against one of the league’s most dangerous defensive fronts.
Denver allowed only 3.9 yards per rushing attempt last season, so reaching the 100-yard mark will not be easy. But if the Chiefs become one-dimensional, the Broncos can attack Mahomes without hesitation.
Defensive key: Make Bo Nix uncomfortable
Defensively, the Chiefs must first put Denver in situations where it has to throw the football, then make Bo Nix uncomfortable when it does.
That begins with limiting the Broncos’ rushing attack and winning on early downs. If Kansas City can force Denver into second-and-long and third-and-long situations, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo can open up his pressure package and force Nix to make quick decisions.
The Chiefs cannot allow him to settle into a rhythm with easy completions and extended drives. Pressure does not always have to result in a sack. Moving Nix off his spot, forcing him to reset his feet and speeding up his internal clock can be just as important.
Kansas City’s defensive front must collapse the pocket, while the secondary holds up long enough for that pressure to arrive. If the Chiefs can make Denver’s offense one-dimensional and consistently force Nix to operate under pressure, they will create opportunities for sacks, turnovers and short possessions.
X-Factor: Win the field-position battle
The x-factor is making sure Kansas City’s offense is not repeatedly asked to drive 80 yards to score.
When the Broncos punt, the Chiefs’ return unit must secure the football, get upfield, and take advantage of every available yard. Even when a return does not produce a highlight, an additional 10 or 15 yards can completely change the approach of an offensive possession.
The same responsibility falls on Kansas City’s punt and coverage units. When the Chiefs are forced to give the ball away, they need to pin Denver deep and make the Broncos earn every yard.
Field position could be especially important in an opening-week divisional game in which both offenses may need time to find their rhythm. Giving Mahomes shorter fields while forcing Nix to consistently start drives near his own goal line would give Kansas City a significant advantage.
The bottom line
The Chiefs do not need Mahomes to carry the entire offense in his first game back.
Kansas City needs to support him by reaching 125 rushing yards, controlling Denver’s pass rush and avoiding obvious passing situations. Defensively, the group must stop the run and make Nix uncomfortable. On special teams, the Chiefs must consistently create shorter fields for their offense and longer ones for Denver.
If Kansas City can accomplish those three things, it will have an excellent opportunity to open its new season — and its attempt to reclaim the AFC West — with a statement victory on Monday night.
